How is luster used for mineral identification?
A.It’s the color of the mineral.
B.It’s how hard the mineral is.
C.It’s how light reflects off the mineral.
D.It’s how a mineral breaks.
My answer is C please check this to see if I am right
Agree
agree
The correct answer is C. It's how light reflects off the mineral.
Luster refers to the appearance of a mineral surface in terms of its shininess or dullness. It is an important property that can help in the identification of minerals. Luster is determined by the way light reflects off the surface of the mineral.
To identify the luster of a mineral, you can follow these steps:
1. Observe the mineral surface: Look at the mineral under good lighting conditions. Take note of the overall appearance of the surface.
2. Determine the level of shininess: Pay attention to how the light interacts with the surface. Does it reflect light strongly, resulting in a shiny appearance? Or does it reflect light poorly, resulting in a dull appearance?
3. Compare it with known luster types: There are several terms used to describe the various types of luster, such as metallic, submetallic, nonmetallic, vitreous (glassy), pearly, silky, greasy, resinous, and dull. Compare the mineral's luster to these terms to find the most suitable description.
By assessing the way light reflects off the mineral's surface and comparing it to known luster types, you can determine its luster and use this information to help identify the mineral.